47

Each of his movements oozes with suffocating control, and I’m hopelessly caught in his web. I stare at my hands in a desperate attempt to disperse the tension that’s wrapping itself around my neck like a noose. “Um…congratulations,” I say in a small voice. Kirill slips another spoonful of soup into my mouth. “For?” “Getting the position as your father’s replacement.” “You say that as if there was a possibility I wouldn’t.” He raises a brow. “Did you doubt me, Sasha?” A frisson goes through me like every time he says my name. It’s especially aggravating when he does it in that rare, amused tone. “I did, but only until I found out you had two plans to get that position.” “Two plans?” “The first is playing the hero for saving your mother and subtly highlighting Konstantin as non-filial. The second is buying votes in case the first plan didn’t work.” “That’s where you’re wrong.” He strokes the corner of my lips to wipe something off, but his fingers linger there for a second too long, feel